ODDS and EVENS | Ryusei Sasaki Raises Game to Greater Heights

In his fifth full season as a pro basketball player, Ryusei Sasaki has elevated his game, becoming one of the premier playmakers in the B.League.

The San-en NeoPhoenix veteran, who plays both backcourt positions, leads the 24-team league in assists (6.5 per game). His stellar play as the top passer is a major reason why San-en (45-10) won its second straight Central Conference title on Wednesday night, April 23 at Yokohama Buntai. With Sasaki distributing the ball with confidence and gravitas, it's also a big part of why the NeoPhoenix are No 1 in two key offensive categories: scoring (91.2 points per game) and assists (22.6).

The NeoPhoenix ended a three-game losing streak on Wednesday, topping the Yokohama B-Corsairs 82-77. Sasaki didn't have a great game ― six points on 2-for-8 shooting, six assists, six turnovers, two steals ― but he exudes confidence in his teammates whenever he's on the court. And that's been a recurring theme throughout the season.

On a team with four key passers in 2023-24, the NeoPhoenix had a sensational season, winning 46 of 60 games. Last year's San-en squad relied on Sota Oura (5.2 assists), Coty Clarke (4.8), Thirdy Ravena (3.0) and Sasaki (3.0) to distribute the basketball. (Then they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, falling to the Hiroshima Dragonflies, the eventual champions.)

Offseason roster moves followed. Clarke joined the Shimane Susanoo Magic, and Ravena moved on to play for Dubai Basketball.

The departure of both players opened the door for Sasaki, 28, to assume a bigger role as a playmaker this season.

And he's having an excellent season. (The playoffs tip off on May 9.)

How Ryusei Sasaki Has Performed on Offense

The NeoPhoenix are a well-balanced offensive team. Five players have double-digit scoring averages, with former NBA guard/forward David Nwaba leading the way with 17.3, followed by Yante Maten's 15.0. Japan national team fan favorite Hirotaka Yoshii (11.4) is also among the top five in scoring, providing a consistent spark in his 20 minutes per game.

Sasaki is averaging 11.4 points and shooting 62.2% from 2-point range. Opposing defenders must respect his passing skills and his shooting touch, especially in the paint where he's most effective (including a jaw-dropping 23 of 34 from close range).

But don't forget that he's averaging more assists than reigning B.League MVP DJ Newbill of the Utsunomiya Brex (6.2), Kai Toews of the Alvark Tokyo (5.9), Anthony Clemmons of the Sunrockers Shibuya (5.6), Yuta Okada of the Kyoto Hannaryz (5.6) and Yuki Togashi of the Chiba Jets (5.1).

Sasaki has had seven or more assists in 30 games to date. In road wins over the SeaHorses Mikawa on October 12 and 13, 2024, the Yamaguchi Prefecture native dished out a season-high 12 assists in both games.

Looking back, Sasaki acknowledged there were lessons to be learned from the team's early playoff exit in May 2024. Ups and downs this season, including a B.League first-division record 22-game winning streak (halted by the Eastern Conference champion Brex on March 22) and the recent three-game skid, have also given Sasaki a deeper understanding of the team's psyche.

"Our winning percentage proves that what we've done so far hasn't been wrong," Sasaki said, according to Basket Count. "We'll continue doing what's good and change what needs to be changed."

Watching and Learning at the Paris Olympics

Although Sasaki didn't compete for Team Japan at the 2024 Paris Olympics, he accompanied the team to France and closely observed the competition.

The 12-nation tournament featuring NBA superstars and abundant overall talent made a lasting impression on Sasaki.

"Watching the world's top players and seeing how they approach the game and the intensity with which they play defense was a plus for me," Sasaki said, according to Basket Count.

"I was particularly impressed by the Serbian national team, which I played against in a training match before the Olympics. I have to learn from that, and I would like to incorporate it [into my game]."

He also admitted in October that observing Jets stars Yuta Watanabe and Togashi serving leadership roles for Akatsuki Japan was beneficial for him.

Sasaki summed up how the veteran duo handled being national team captains this way: "They take care of a lot of things," Basket Count reported.

A Confident Floor Leader

In San-en's season-opening game on October 5 against the Ryukyu Golden Kings, Sasaki sank a clutch 3-pointer with 36 seconds remaining in overtime to extend the NeoPhoenix's lead to 95-90. San-en prevailed 96-92 in a clash of title contenders, and Sasaki finished with 11 points and a game-high nine assists.

After the game, NeoPhoenix head coach Atsushi Ono spoke about Sasaki's role as an on-court leader for the team.

"This is our third year together, and he is becoming more and more aware of [his role] without me having to tell him," Ono told reporters at Okinawa Arena. "At the end of the game, he hit the shot with confidence. It wasn't so much whether the shot went in or not, but the process of making the shot was the best part of the game."

It was a satisfying victory, according to Sasaki.

"One of the positives was that we were able to persevere as a team," he commented after the OT triumph. "We can play better basketball if we focus on ourselves and not on our opponents."

In San-en's positive start to the 204-25 season, Sasaki pointed out that he enjoys being called upon to play alongside Oura in the backcourt, moving to shooting guard in such situations.

*NeoPhoenix guard Sota Oura has come off the bench in each of the team's 55 games this season. (B.LEAGUE)*

"I am aware that it is our weapon for Oura [at the point] and I to play as the two guard at important moments," he said.

He continued: "Personally, I aim to be a player who can do it when times are tough," Sasaki was quoted as saying by Basket Count. "It's great to be trusted to go out on the court there, and it's easy to do."

Sasaki's Road to Stardom

Sasaki made his pro debut with the Osaka Evessa in the 2018-19 B.League campaign, appearing in eight games while still enrolled as a student at Tenri University. He appeared in two games for the B.League second division's Kumamoto Volters the next season. In 2020-21, as a full-time rookie, he contributed 9.1 points and 2.3 assists for the Volters in 53 games. He then averaged 8.1 and 3.9 in 54 games the next season for Kumamoto.

In his first season in B1 with the NeoPhoenix, Sasaki provided 11.0 points and 4.2 assists in 2022-23. He demonstrated game after game that he could be a dependable playmaker and run the offense with poise and consistency in Japan's top flight.

Sasaki continued to demonstrate those traits in San-en's notable 2023-24 campaign and throughout the current season.

As a persistent reminder of his vital role on the team, you'll hear the public-address announcer call out his name many times each game, informing the crowd that Ryusei Sasaki has chalked up another assist. (And this March 2025 highlight reel video provides an illuminating review of his passing skills.)

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.